Holy Cross Ladies Philoptochos

Holy Cross Ladies Philoptochos
Our Ladies Philoptochos was organized in 1975. The first President was Valentina Vlachos.

The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc., is the nation’s second largest non-profit philanthropic organization. First and foremost, we help the needy of our own community. Our members work diligently to also serve those in need not only in our community but where ever there is need. We visit the elderly in St. Michaels Home for the Aged, the children of St. Basils, and the patients in Ronald McDonald House. We contribute to numerous charities, including orphanages, battered or abused women and children, cancer, people in distress due to natural disasters and many more.

Our current paid membership is 80 ladies who are dedicated to Holy Cross. Throughout the year we sponsor a variety of events to raise funds for our philanthropic work. Our Annual Philoptochos Dinner/Fashion Show draws ladies from all the sister Philoptochos Chapters. We also sponsor a Makaronada luncheon, Vasilopita Brunch and an Annual Christmas Card drive. The ladies of Philoptochos are dedicated members of the community who labor in all facets of community life and for the benefit of the entire community.

Periodically, our seventeen combined philoptochos sister chapters of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties host fund-raiser charity events to assist children infected with the AIDS virus and Children’s Cardiac Programs. A substantial donation was made to the Don Monte Cancer Memorial Pavilion at North Shore University Hospital/L.I.J. One of our events benefited the Ronald McDonald House, which is affiliated with Schneider Children’s Hospital of L.I. J. and the Greek Children’s Fund. In October, 2000 we held a Fashion Show/Dinner to raise money for the future site of St. Michael’s Nursing Home.

Our chapter has been honored to have our president also as president of the Direct Archdiocesan District Philoptochos for New York, Connecticut and Washington D. C. chapters. She was appointed by his Eminence Archbishop Demetrios in September of 2007. he National Philoptochos will hold their convention this year in Washington D.C. from July 13-18, 2009 at the Marriott Wardsman Park Hotel.

The Philoptochos board is:
Maria Skiadas - President
Maria Mihas - 1st Vice President
Evangelia Samartzis - 2nd Vice President
Dafni Antonakis - Recording Secretary
Marianthi Raptis - Asst. Recording Secretary
Mary Katsigiannis - Corresponding Secretary
Zoe Alikakos - Treasurer
Eleni Argyris - Asst. Treasurer
Irene Papagianopoulos - Advisor

Board Members:
Mary Gournelos
Kouka Liolis
Barbara Pappas
Vasiliki Roumbakis
Amalia Shoshilos
Helen Toth
Theofanis Tselekas
Stavroula Vlahos